Sesame & Oat Energy Balls

These energy balls contain two nutrient-dense ingredients: sesame and oats. Sesame seeds are an excellent source of many essential minerals including copper, manganese, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, and zinc. Similarly, the nutrition profile of rolled oats reads more like a nutritional supplement. But oats' biggest asset is high fiber, which promotes satiety--meaning keeps you full for a long time. This is why, these sesame & oat energy balls are an excellent source of energy, especially when you are out and about.

I find these energy balls a great afternoon pick-me-up. But, when running low on time in the morning to have my usual breakfast, these balls offer a great (breakfast) alternative. The best thing about these sesame & oat energy balls is that it takes only ten minutes to make them. These energy balls  double up as a sweet treat and are made with only six ingredients. Here is how to make sesame & oats energy balls:

Let's make the Sesame and Oats energy balls

I use white, hulled sesame seeds. For oats, my choice is quick oats or traditional oats. One benefit of using instant oats compared to traditional oats is that they yield slightly smoother texture. Dates and maple syrup work both as sweeteners as well as binders in this recipe. If you use it, you can substitute maple syrup with honey as well.

A note on phytates on oats: Oats contain high amount of phytates–a natural substance that stores phosphorus in plant seeds. Most grains–cereals, legume, and beans contain phytates. The downside of consuming grains without removing phytates–especially if you rely heavily on grains/lentils/beans in your diet–is that they can obstruct the absorption of a few essential minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium. Cultures that rely primarily on grains, have figured out the ways to remove/reduce phytates from grains. Oat is particularly high in phytates and sprouting is one of the best ways to considerably reduce phytates in oats. If you are concerned about phytates, you can use sprouted oats.

I have tried the following two brands, if you are interested in using sprouted oats. Personally, I use regular oats more often than sprouted oats.

For flavor, I use green cardamom powder. However, if you don't have cardamom in your pantry (or are not a great fan of the flavor), cinnamon, vanilla powder, or liquid vanilla extract should work as well. Shredded unsweetened coconut adds a subtle texture and flavor to these balls.

Start by toasting sesame seeds. The goal is to lightly toast the seeds to release flavor but not change the color.

Process oats in a food processor till they are grainy in texture (not finely powdered). Add sesame seeds and pulse a few times till oats and sesame seeds are mixed well. Add dates, shredded coconut, ground cardamom, and maple syrup and process till everything mixes well and forms a sticky dough.

Divide the processed mixture into 12 equal parts and roll each part into a ball and then roll each ball in the bed of unsweetened shredded (dry) coconut.  If you have kids, this can be a fun project for them. Enjoy!

TLC tip on eating energy balls

While these energy balls are super healthy and nutritious , they  are so delicious that they can be addictive--especially if you have a sweet tooth. Therefore, it is best to stick to eating just one to two balls per occasion. Sesame like most  other seeds is high in fat and dates/maple syrup, even though natural, are natural forms  of sugar. And, it is best to  enjoy sugar in moderation for optimal health (more on this later).

NOTE: If you use metric system for measuring ingredients, please click on "Metric" in the recipe box.